Description Share Post Worlds of Wonder Celebrating the Great Classics of Children’s Literature Edited by Daniel Hahn (Princeton University Press) Daniel Hahn, who has translated so many children’s books loved, read and recommended by Bookwagon, edits Worlds of Wonder. This outstanding collation presents a huge range of classics from children’s literature. They are arranged chronologically. Thereafter, we begin with The First Golden Age, wherein we are reunited with familiar books including The Little Mermaid, The Jungle Book and The Secret Garden. We continue through New Horizons, from 1930- 1959, from Fattypuffs and Thinifers to James Vance Marshall’s Walkabout. Meanwhile, Modern Horizons, take us from 1961’s Asterix the Great to Dick King- Smith’s The Sheep-King, published 1983. The final section reminds us that books, including Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone are twenty years old. The final inclusion is R.J. Palaccio’s Wonder, released in 2012. Not only is each book introduced, but we read each individual story, how it was written, what is included. What’s more, there’s information about the writer and illustrator, with the original illustrations included, alongside those from later editions. Thereafter, we learn of each title’s success; what happened during publication. For example, Black Beauty was Anna Sewell’s only book. It was inspired by her ill-health, which confined her to a horse and cart for transport. What’s more, she died five months after its publication, never realising its impact upon the reading world, and horses, too. Bookwagon is awed by Worlds of Wonder. This is a mighty book that merits a place on every home, school and library shelf.
